Isaiah 40:17
Isaiah 40:17 in Multiple Translations
All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing, and vanity.
All the nations are as nothing before him; even less than nothing, a thing of no value.
To him all the nations are like nothing. He counts them as less than nothing—like they don't exist.
All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him, lesse then nothing, and vanitie.
All the nations [are] as nothing before Him, Less than nothing and emptiness, They have been reckoned to Him.
All the nations are like nothing before him. They are regarded by him as less than nothing, and vanity.
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
All nations are before him as if they had no being at all, and are counted to him as nothing, and vanity.
The nations of the world are completely insignificant/unimportant to him; he considers that they are worthless and less than nothing [HYP, DOU].
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 40:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 40:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
הַ/גּוֹיִ֖ם
כְּ/אַ֣יִן
נֶגְדּ֑/וֹ
מֵ/אֶ֥פֶס
וָ/תֹ֖הוּ
נֶחְשְׁבוּ
לֽ/וֹ
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הַ/גּוֹיִ֖ם
gôwy
H1471
Gentile
Art | N-mp
כְּ/אַ֣יִן
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Prep | Part
נֶגְדּ֑/וֹ
neged
H5048
before
Prep | Suff
מֵ/אֶ֥פֶס
ʼepheç
H657
end
Prep | N-ms
וָ/תֹ֖הוּ
tôhûw
H8414
formlessness
Conj | N-ms
נֶחְשְׁבוּ
châshab
H2803
to devise
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
לֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 40:17
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ/גּוֹיִ֖ם
gôwy
H1471
"Gentile"
Art | N-mp
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Definition: 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) 1c) Goyim? = "nations" Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: Genesis 10:5; Judges 4:16; Psalms 2:1.
כְּ/אַ֣יִן
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Prep | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
נֶגְדּ֑/וֹ
neged
H5048
"before"
Prep | Suff
Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.
Definition: subst 1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv 2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of 3) in front of oneself, straightforward 4) before your face, in your view or purpose with prep 5) what is in front of, corresponding to 6) in front of, before 7) in the sight or presence of 8) parallel to 9) over, for 10) in front, opposite 11) at a distance prep 12) from the front of, away from 13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from 14) from before, in front of 15) as far as the front of Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: about, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view. See also: Genesis 2:18; Job 10:17; Psalms 10:5.
מֵ/אֶ֥פֶס
ʼepheç
H657
"end"
Prep | N-ms
This word can mean the soles of the feet or the ankles, but it can also mean an end or a stop to something. In Deuteronomy 28:35, it describes a curse that will afflict the Israelites from the soles of their feet to the top of their head.
Definition: 1) ceasing, end, finality 2) expressing non-existence
Usage: Occurs in 43 OT verses. KJV: ankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause). See also: Numbers 13:28; Isaiah 5:8; Psalms 2:8.
וָ/תֹ֖הוּ
tôhûw
H8414
"formlessness"
Conj | N-ms
Tohuw describes a desolate or empty place, like a wilderness or wasteland. It can also mean something is worthless or unreal, like an idol.
Definition: 1) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness 1a) formlessness (of primeval earth) 1a1) nothingness, empty space 1b) that which is empty or unreal (of idols) (fig) 1c) wasteland, wilderness (of solitary places) 1d) place of chaos 1e) vanity
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness. See also: Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 34:11; Psalms 107:40.
נֶחְשְׁבוּ
châshab
H2803
"to devise"
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
To devise means to think or plan something, often in a clever way. In the Bible, it can mean to plot or contrive, as seen in the story of David and Goliath.
Definition: : count/regard_as 1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to think, account 1a2) to plan, devise, mean 1a3) to charge, impute, reckon 1a4) to esteem, value, regard 1a5) to invent 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed 1b2) to be computed, be reckoned 1b3) to be imputed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of 1c2) to think to do, devise, plan 1c3) to count, reckon 1d) (Hithpael) to be considered
Usage: Occurs in 122 OT verses. KJV: (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think. See also: Genesis 15:6; Psalms 35:4; Psalms 10:2.
לֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Isaiah 40:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 40:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:17
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
- Sermons on Isaiah 40:17
Context — Here Is Your God!
15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
16Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.
18To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? 19To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 62:9 | Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor. |
| 2 | Daniel 4:34–35 | But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” |
| 3 | Isaiah 29:7 | All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night, |
| 4 | Job 25:6 | how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!” |
| 5 | 2 Corinthians 12:11 | I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. |
Isaiah 40:17 Summary
Isaiah 40:17 means that God is so powerful and wise that all the nations of the world are like nothing to Him. This doesn't mean He doesn't care about us, but rather that He is in control of everything, as seen in Psalms 103:19. Just like a parent has more power and wisdom than their child, God has more power and wisdom than all human nations combined (Romans 11:33-36). This should give us peace and comfort, knowing that God is always in control, even when things seem big and overwhelming to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that all nations are as nothing before God?
This means that in God's perspective, all the power and might of human nations are insignificant and unimportant, as seen in Isaiah 40:17, and is a theme also found in Psalms 2:1-4, where God laughs at the attempts of nations to defy Him.
Is God being arrogant or dismissive when He regards nations as nothingness and emptiness?
No, God is simply stating the reality of His infinite power and wisdom, as seen in Isaiah 40:17, and as also expressed in Jeremiah 32:17, where God says He can do anything He pleases.
How does this verse relate to our everyday lives?
This verse reminds us that our problems and concerns, though significant to us, are small in God's eyes, and He is always in control, as seen in Matthew 10:29-31, where Jesus teaches that God cares for even the smallest details of our lives.
What does this verse teach us about God's character?
This verse teaches us about God's sovereignty, power, and wisdom, as seen in Isaiah 40:17, and is a theme also found in Romans 11:33-36, where Paul expresses awe at God's unsearchable judgments and ways.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do I try to make myself or my nation seem more significant than it really is, and how can I humbly acknowledge God's greatness instead?
- How does the reality of God's infinite power and wisdom affect my prayer life and trust in Him?
- What are some ways I can remind myself daily of God's sovereignty and control over all nations and circumstances?
- In what ways can I apply the truth of Isaiah 40:17 to my own life, recognizing that my problems and concerns are small in God's eyes?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:17
All nations before him are as nothing,.... As if they were nonentities, and were not real beings in comparison of him, who is the Being of beings, the author of all beings which exist in all nations;
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:17
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. All nations before him (are) as nothing - (Psalms 62:9; Daniel 4:35.) Less than nothing.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
Before him; either in his eyes, or being set against him, as this Hebrew word properly and most usually signifies. Counted to him, either in his judgment, or in comparison of him. Less than nothing; less than a thing of nought, or of no account or worth; or, as others render it, for nothing.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
Isaiah 40:17 All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.Ver. 17. All nations before him are as nothing.] Agnosce ergo virium tuarum ουδενειαν. See therefore thine own nothingness, and learn to vilify, yea, to nullify thyself before God, as Agur, and as David, who was a worm and no man Reiectamentum hominis et nullificamen populi, Tertul.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
(17) Less than nothing.—Literally, as things of nought.Vanity.—Once more the tohu, or chaos, of Genesis 1:2—one of Isaiah’s favourite phrases (Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 29:21; Isaiah 34:11).
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:17
17. less than nothing] Better: of nought; “belonging to the category of nothingness” (Cheyne). vanity] The Hebr. is tôhû, a word which means primarily “a waste,” and is applied in Genesis 1:2 to the primeval chaos (A.V. “without form”). See on ch. Isaiah 29:21, Isaiah 34:11. Here and in many other cases it is a synonym for nonentity.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:17
Are as nothing - This expresses literally what had been expressed by the beautiful and striking imagery above.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:17
17. All nations… are as nothing — The thought of Isa 40:15 is resumed. In weighing comparisons of such a Being all nations of the earth “are as nothing.”
Sermons on Isaiah 40:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Greatness of God by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the concept of being "less than nothing" in the eyes of God. He emphasizes that humans are temporary beings who cannot take anything with t |
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The Sovereignty of God in Creation by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God in creation, illustrating how God's will and pleasure govern all aspects of the universe, from the grandest celestial bodies to |
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God Has Everything Under Control by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes that despite the chaos and calamities shaking the world, believers can find peace in the knowledge that God is in control. He reassures the faithful that |
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The Christian's Assurance by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes the profound assurance found in Romans 8:28, illustrating how God orchestrates all circumstances for the good of those who love Him. He reassures believers tha |
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Plant a Tree by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes that God does not promise a life free from suffering or worldly security, but instead offers peace and assurance for our souls. He reminds believers that |
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Don't Be Fooled, Jesus Reigns by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus reigns supreme over all nations and human authorities, asserting that no earthly power, including political parties or businesses, holds true |
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Look to Our Glorious King by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of looking to God amidst the chaos and turmoil of the world, reminding believers that despite the overwhelming events and moral decline, G |